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Protest watch? NBC planning to televise national anthem before NFL season opener

Posted on August 28, 2017 at 12:00 PM

Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins raises his fist during the national anthem before the team's NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins raises his fist during the national anthem before the team's NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

For NBC, the interest in which players are kneeling, standing, locking arms, raising fists or sitting down is relevant. According to Michael McCarthy of Sporting News, it's enough to keep the cameras fixed on the sidelines during the national anthem before the season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots.

The eyes of the sports TV world will be on NBC on Thursday, Sept. 7 as the network televises the 2017 NFL regular-season opener between the Patriots and Chiefs. With the controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest still raging, the network will televise the playing of the national anthem at Gillette Stadium.

As McCarthy explains, this tactic is typically reserved for the biggest games of the season. If it becomes a weekly thing for NBC, it's likely because the interest from fans is there in knowing which players are demonstrating before kickoff.

NFL broadcast partners typically do not show the playing of the national anthem except before the Super Bowl, opening night or other special games, as they usually are in commercial due to time constraints.

But the question of which players will be standing and which will be kneeling before this season's opener -- and the rest of the regular season -- is taking on added importance.

With NBC setting the stage for the season, we'll see if FOX, CBS and ESPN follow suit--and if NBC doubles down on its first Sunday Night Football broadcast of the season between the Giants and Cowboys on Sept. 10.